Ballpoint cartridge units



Jan. 28, 1964 F. T. JOHMANN BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE UNITS Filed June 26, 1958 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent F 3,119,377 BALLPOINT CARTRIDGE UNITS Frank T. Johmann, 49 Hampton Drive,

Berkeley Heights, NJ. Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,747 1 Claim. (63. 12042.4)

This invention relates to ballpoint cartridge units having an adjustable length. Particularly, it relates to a unit including a ballpoint cartridge in combination with an extension element whereby the combination may be readily adjusted to varying lengths.

Ballpoint cartridges are manufactured in a number of different lengths and each length fits only certain ballpoint pens or pencils. This constitutes a problem in the provision of replacement cartridges, since it is obviously desirable that a single replacement cartridges fit as many makes of ballpoint pens and pencils as possible. In order to overcome this problem, several solutions have been offered whereby the length of the cartridge can be adjusted.

One prior solution provides an extra long metal cartridge which is transversely scored into a number of sections at its upper end whereby segments can be broken off to provide the desired length. One must be taken this type of unit is that considerable care must be taken in snapping ed the desired length so that the cartridge breaks at the proper point and distortion or bending of the cartridge is avoided. Another disadvantage is that if the user inadvertently snaps the end off too short, the cartridge then may become useless to him as no way is provided for again extending it.

Another prior solution is by providing a relatively short cartridge which is internally threaded at its open upper end along with a series of threaded extension members of varying lengths. Thus, by threading the proper length extension member into the end of the cartridge, the desired overall length is obtained. However, this method requires that the manufacturer supply a number of extension members of different lengths in order to provide the particular length that the consumer needs.

Still another prior method uses a tubular sleeve having a longitudinally spaced series of deformable teeth. This sleeve slips over the open end of the cartridge and requires deforming one of the teeth inwardly to act as a stop, so as to limit the extent the sleeve will slide down the cartridge, thereby adjusting the overall length of the unit. However, bending the deformable tooth inwardly is rather difiicult without the aid of pliers or some other tools. Also it may be diilicult to readjust the length if the user mistakenly deformed the wrong tooth.

Now the present invention provides a ballpoint cartridge unit consisting of a cartridge member, a plug extending from the end thereof opposite the writing end, and single tubular extension member which slides or telescopes over the plug until the desired overall length is obtained. Then, the extension member is simply rotated relative to the plug to effectively lock or join the two pieces together. The unit of the invention may be quickly and easily adjusted to the desired length, if mistakenly extended it can be readjusted to the correct length, it requires but a single extension member and no tools are required. More specifically, this new unit comprises a ballpoint cartridge having a writing ball at its lower end, a plug at its upper end having at least one outwardly projecting car at or near its upper end, and a tubular extension element formed with at least one longitudinal slot and a series of substantially transverse slots which open into the longitudinal slot. In use, the tubular extension member is slipped over the plug with the ear of the plug projecting into the longitudinal slot of the extension element. The combination is then telescoped until the desired length is obtained, after ice which the extension me her is then rotated relative to the plug so that the projecting ear of the plug enters into one of said transverse slots and the two parts are locked together. The combined unit is then ready for use.

The invention will be further understood by the accompanying drawings which include preferred embodiments of this invention.

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of an embodiment of my invention illustrating the use of my invention with a giant cartridge having a plastic plug at its end.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 of my invention a giant cartridge is utilized having the large diameter (e.g. about 7 to A inch internal diameter) reservoir tube 20 which is closed at its upper end by frictional engagement with the plug '21 which is .formed with the longtiudinal slot 22 or air vent extending within the tube 20. The upper portion 2 3- of the plug 221 is reduced in cross-section and is formed with two radially spaced transversely projecting ears 24. The extension member 25 is formed with two diametrically opposite longitudinal slots 2-6 open at their lower ends and two series of trans-verse slots 27 for engagement with said ears 24.

The user merely places the replacement uni-t next to the cartridge he is replacing and telescopes the replacement cartridge with its extension member until the desired length is obtained. Then the cartridge and plug with its ear is rotated so that the ear enters the closest transverse slot and the cartridge and extension member becomes engaged.

The early and more conventional cartridges were limited in their internal diameter by the tendency of the ink to run out of the open end of the cartridge (when inverted) if the internal diameter exceeded a certain definite width. These cartridges usually have an external diameter of about /8 inch and the bulk of the present day ballpoint writing instruments. are made for use with these narrow diameter cartridges. More recently it was found that larger diameter cartridges could be used if a grease plug was provided at the top of the ink column. It was further found that by having a plastic or metal plug with a small air 'vent above the grease plug that a further safeguard against leaking was obtained, even in the event of a dry socket, e.g. see US. Patent 2,804,049. Because of their obvious advantage in providing a larger ink supply, the use of giant cartridges as replacements for the older narrow diameter cartridges is particularly preferred. However, many of the present day ballpoint writing instruments have retraction mechanisms which engage the upper end of the cartridge, and since they were designed for small diameter cartridges, they will accept only cartridges whose upper end is about /8 inch in external diameter. However, as illustrated by FIGURES 1 and 2-, this problem is overcome by the provision of a giant cartridge having a plastic or metal seal at its upper end terminating in a narrow stem carrying a projecting ear for engagement with my tubular extension member. Thus, by making the external diameter of the extension member about Ms inch, the combined unit not only will have an adjustable length but may be readily used in the older writing units adapted to engage the upper end of a narrow diameter cartridge.

I claim:

An extendable ballpoint cartridge unit comprising: a giant bmlpoint cartridge of relatively large diameter having a writing ball at its lower end and a plug at its upper end, said plug having an upwardly extending stem of reduced diameter and at least one ear projecting outwardly proximate the upper end of said stern and integral therewith, and a tubular extension member defining at least one longitudinal slot and a plurality of substantially transverse slots communicaitng with said longitudinal slot, said extension member being rec-iproeauy and longitudinally movable in sliding engagement over said stern when the ear of said stem projects into said longitudinal slot and wherein said cartridge and said extension member are engaged when said ear projects into one of said transverse slots.

203,460 Johnson May 7, 1878 Jewell Sept. 2, 1879 Tyrrell Dec. 4, 1883 Anderson Feb, 16, 1892 Bossert Mar. 15, 1904 Bittorf et-al July 1, 1941 Stoeberl Aug. 20, 1957 Fisher Nov. 18, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 15, 1949 France Nov. 1, 1950 France Apr. 9, 1956 

